No matter what, the home absolutely must look its bestKey Takeaways Quality photography is defined differently by different agents, but the key is turning out a professional product.With more than 90 percent of buyers starting their home search online, listing photos are your new curbside. And if you want buyers to stop and investigate further, your exterior photos, especially, need to create a positive first impression.But exactly what does cons
The door for first-time homebuyers is wide open.Rents are rising faster than incomes, which is causing many millennials to enter the market and buy. In fact, half (50 percent) of today’s homebuyers are under the age of 36, according to Zillow’s 2016 Consumer Housing Trends Report, and 47 percent are first-time buyers. Solo homebuyers are in the minority, while most buyers are shopping with a spouse or partner (73 percent).Buying a home is t
Buyers want to be able to picture themselves in the houseWhen you show your home’s best features by staging it effectively, you help increase your final selling price without breaking the bank. As our infographic below shows, the following five golden rules of home staging will help you show off its best assets:The five golden rules are:1. De-personalize: While your family photos are beautiful and your kids’ drawings on the fridge are adorabl
Homeowners can make a lot of mistakes during that first year in homeownership, especially when eagerness can sometimes lead to ignorance. HouseLogic recently featured several of the most common and costly missteps homeowners most often make in their first year, including:1. Always going with the lowest bid.Homeowners may be smart about gathering multiple bids when, say, that HVAC system needs repairs. But they may be tempted to always go with the
Energy-efficient homes built too tightly have building experts warning about the potential health impact on owners. A home sealed efficiently can be great for reducing heating and cooling costs and managing its environmental impact. But the home itself still needs to breathe, some experts warn.“Many homeowners are now having trouble with their more tightly built houses because the homes lack the ventilation necessary to get the stale insi
Home improvement projects present the biggest opportunity for scammers to take advantage of homeowners, according to the Better Business Bureau’s Risk Index. Victims of home improvement scams lost an average of $1,400 from shady contractors, painters, and other repairmen, according to the BBB’s analysis.The analysis found that such scams pose the highest risk to homeowners based on three criteria: exposure (how likely consumers are to be expo
Ooma, a smart home phone and security company, offers six tips for preventing break-ins. Front door surveillance. Because 34 percent of break-ins happen through the front door of a home, recommend that your clients install a smart doorbell that routes to their phone. Other security options Ooma mentions include two-way speakers that will give visitors the impression the owner is home, or video cameras so your clients can see who’s at the door
Help your clients give the illusion of a perfectly manicured yard with these easy steps for sprucing up greenery from HouseLogic.Create accents with rocks. They don’t require the same level of care, water, and sunlight that grass and plants do. Rocks are good tools for forming pathways, adding design elements, or creating dry creek beds. Spots in the yard that collect water can be kept under control with rocks, which aid water runoff.Use colorf
Engage your audience with a mix of personal and helpful contentWhen was the last time you checked your Facebook feed?If it’s been more than a few minutes, you’re one of the few who can resist the allure. Real estate agents live on Facebook, and it makes perfect sense. That’s where their sphere is. And that’s where they can make new connections quickly and inexpensively.But posting on Facebook is another thing. It’s tricky to strike the
A home's price is based on many factors that can’t be changed, such as location, square footage, and age. While these fixed factors may seem like an end-all-be-all, you can present your client’s home in other ways that may add perceived value for buyers. A full overhaul or shiny new kitchen are not the only options — choosing the right home decor can go a long way in bringing buyers.Here's a look at some top accessories and decor choices
This website includes images sourced from third party websites including Adobe, Getty Images, and as otherwise noted.
